Crew-saving device for submarines



Dec. 20, 1927.

. A. RASMUSSEN cam! SAVING nsvxdn FOR smsunxuus Filed April -21; 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 v [n ventor flfiaers FdS/l/ZISSCM By @uww A ttornlgy Dec. 20, 1927.

1,653,310 A. RASMUSSEN CREW SAVING DEVICE FOR SUBIAKINES Filed April 21. 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 71 wen to r //z'dars Fwvw/wa/w,

B i J J Attorney Patented Dec. 20, 1927.

' UNITED STATES ANDEBS RASMUSSEN, OF NEW ALBANY. INDIANA CREW-SAVING DEVICE FOR SUBHABINES.

Application filed April 21, 1927. Serial No. 185,625.

This invention relates to newand useful improvements in life saving devices and has more particular reference to an apparatus constructed for association with a submarine to enable the crew to escape therefrom in the event the submarine cannot arise to the surface of'the "water! 7 In carrying out my invention there is provided a plurality of similarly constructed human body containers for receiving the various members of the crew, which containers will immediately rise to the surface of the Water when ejected from the submarine and float thereon in a manner of a F small boat, means being provided whereby the said containers may be ejected from the submarine and this with little or no liability of the water entering the compartment containing the mechanism.

The most important object of the present invention other than for the purpose for which it is provided is to permit the mecha nism to be associated with all designs of submarines now in use and this without great expenditure and without materially adding to the cost of construction of new submarines equipped with such device.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal section of a submarine equipped with my improved apparatus.

Figure 2 is a detail longitudinal section through the guide tube for thehuman containers, the outer end thereof being plugged to prevent the entrance of water Into the submarine.

Figure 3 1s a similar view, the plug being removed and a pair of the human containers being disclosed as arranged therein.

Figure 4 is a detail longitudinal section through one of the containers, per se.

Figure 5 is a transverse section through the container taken substantially upon the line 5-5 of Figure 4, and

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section through the container for more clearly disclosing the construction of a small door conveniently located therein, whereby the occupant may reach therethrough for controlling the ejecting mechanism in the event he is the last of the crew to depart from the submarine.

Now having particular reference to the drawing A in Figure 1 designates fragmentary a submarine that is constructed at any convenient point throughout its length and at the top side with a compartment a. Arranged diagonally within this compartment (1 and having one end projecting through the top of the submarine is a cylindrical tube 5 open at its outer end as clearly indicated in Figure 2. Any desirable supporting means may be provided for this tube, and in so much as this is not an essential feature of the invention no particular means is disclosed. Said tube 5 at the outer end thereof is provided with an internal channel 6 within which is normally arranged a closure plug 7 to prevent the inlet of the water into the tube and consequently into the compartment a. hen submerged the ressure of the water against this plug wi serve to maintain the same in place. However, any suitable means may be provided for securing the same against accidental displacement within the tube.

As clearly disclosed in Figures 2 and 3 the to side of thetube at its rear end is formed with a semi-circular and horizontally extending cut out 8 to permit the human containers, hereinafter more fully described,

to be disposed horizontally therein and to permit the crew to enter the containers after the same have been arranged in said, tube.

- These containers more clearly disclosed in Figures 3, 4, 5 and 6 are preferably of elongated cylindrical formation and designated by the reference character 9, the front end of each container being preferably rounded as clearly disclosed in Figures 3 and 4. Adjacent their forward and rear ends, said containers are formed wit-h circumferential ribs 10 for tightly engaging the interior of the tube 5 to prevent the passage of water be tween said containers and said tube, when the same are projected forwardly beyond the cutout 8 as indicated in Figure 3. These containers are provided at their forward ends in each instance with a horizontal partition 11 so that provision and panel compartments are provided. Furthermore, each container 9 is equipped at its bottom side with a piv otal blade 12 that is normally arranged within a horizontal pocket 13 in the bottom side thereof, these blades being provided for stabilizing the containers after the same have reached the surface of the water and in order that the said containers may be addled from place to place without any lia ility of the same rolling over.

Between the circumferential ribs 1010 opening and the adjacent edges of the door sections are formed to provide water proof joints 1616. Furthermore the adjacent edges of these sectionsare constructed to have overlapping relation and furthermore to provide a water proof joint 17. At the ends of the door opening 14 the interior of each container 9 is formed with depending and inwardly extending tongues 18-18 slotted at their inner ends for receiving bolts 19-19 ivotally attached to the under side of the oor section whose free edge overlaps the free edge of the adjacent door section,

and upon which bolts are arranged hand turning nuts 20-20 so that the doors may be locked in closed condition.

As indicated in Figures 3 and 6, one side of each container adjacent the opening 14 is provided with a small opening 21 to one edge of which is hingedly secured a door 22 in such a manner as to swing inwardly in the direction of the arrow in said Figure 6. The edges of the door and opening are formed to provide water tight joints as clearly indicated. Furthermore, a suitable looking means 22 is provided for facilitating the rigid securing of the door in closed position, such locking means being preferably that as previously described for locking the door sections 15-15 in'closed position. This door is provided in order that the last member of the crew to de art may reach therethrough and start t e container ejectin mechanism hereinafter more fully describe In the actual operation of an apparatus of this character, one container 9 is first arranged within the openin 8 of the tube 5 and thence forced forwar 1y to the position indicated in Figure 3, the forward movement of the sameprojectingthe plug 7' from the outer end of the tube. However, the position of the container within the tube will prevent the passage of water into the submarine as previously described. maintaining the first container in position partially projected through the forward end of the tube, a suitable SPIID latch 23 is associated with the bottom of t e tube. the latch pin thereof projecting into the tube and eing tapered'as indicated in said Figure 3 so as to permit the container to be forcibly moved forwardly. After the first container is arranged within the forward end of the tube a second container is disposed therein after which the mechanism is set into operation for forcing the rearmost tube forwardly which tube will in turn contact the forward tube for expelling the'same from the tube For 7.

whereupon it will rapidly rise to the surface of the water, it being understood that after each container is disposed within the tube the door sections 15-15 are opened, and one member of the crew enters therein.

One means whereb the container may be expelled from the tu e is herein shown and described. However, it is to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to any such mechanism'as other means may be provided ut preferabl of an electrical nature and this IS slich t at-the. same will not operate immediately upon the turning on' of the switch, so that the.last member of the crew may reach tlfilrough the side door and turn the switch 0 Furthermore, the mechanism should be such that it can be set for causing a long or short stroke of the said plunger bar order that the last container within the tube may be shoved entirely therethrough as Wlll be necessary;

It will thus be seen that I have provided a highly novel, simple and eflicient mechanism whereby the crew of a submarine may be brought to. the surface of the water and .even though I have herein shown and described the apparatus as consisting of certain detail structural elements it is nevertheless to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to such a disclosure for the reason that numerous departures may be made therefrom without affecting the spirit and swipe of the appended claims.

aving thus described the invention, what I claim is 1. In a crew saving device for submarines,

a relatively elongated tube open at its outer end and arranged at its said open end through the outer wall of the submarine, a closure plug normally arranged within the outer open end of the tube, a floatable human container for disposition within the tube means for ejecting the container from sai tube whereupon it will float to the surface of the water, said tube being of such length'as to receive two of the containers, the rearmost container adapted to project the outermost container from the tube and to plug the interior of the tube so as to prevent the passage of water between the tube and said container. 2. In a crew savin device for submarines, a relatively elongate tube open at its outer end and arranged at its said open end container for disposition within the tube, means for ejecting the container from said tube whereupon it will float to the surface of the water, said tube being of such length as to receive two of the containers, the rearmost container adapted to project the outermost container from the tube and to plug the interior of the tube so as to prevent the passage of water between the tube and said container, and means. associated with the tube for preventing the inward movement of the outermost container after the same has been partially projected from said tube.

3. In a crew saving device for submarines,

a tube arranged within the submarine open at one end and arranged at said open end through the deck of the submarine, a plug normally closing the open end of the tube, a plurality of floatable human containers for disposition within the tubes said tube bein of a length to accommodate a pair of said human containers in longitudinal alignment,

and means for engaging the rearmost container to force the same longitudinally outwardly within the tube to a point projecting slightly beyond the open end of the tube, said rearmost container adapted to force the outer container entirely outward of the tube whereupon it will rise to the surface of the water.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ANDERS RASMUSSEN. 

